Racks with roll brake mechanism for disposing roll bags

ABSTRACT

A dispenser is disclosed for dispensing plastic bags from bag rolls. The dispenser includes a base frame and an arm pivotally connected to the base frame. A roll stop is attached to the arm to be inserted in the core of the bag roll when one is nested on the frame. The roll stop includes an internal spring which applies a braking force to the interior of the core of the bag roll to prevent the bag roll from spinning.

RELATED PRIORITY DATE APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the U.S.provisional application No. 62/741,517 filed on Oct. 4, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispensing assemblies for dispensingplastic bags and, more particularly, to dispensers for dispensing bagsfrom bag rolls. Still more particularly, the present invention relatesto a dispenser that has a brake mechanism for preventing roll spinning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In supermarkets, department stores, fast food restaurants, and otherretail outlets, there is frequently the need for consumers or storeemployees to place items in bags to facilitate handling and purchase.For example, produce bags are dispensed directly to customers to allowthe customer to bag the produce as it is chosen for purchase. Also, indeli or meat departments, store employees place the selected meats orother deli products in bags (or other packaging) for the consumer. Atfast food restaurants, especially when an order is made “to go,” theemployee places the food in a plastic bag to facilitate handling andprevent spilling or leaking In the prior art, there are a number ofdesigns for dispensing bags for these purposes.

Roll mounted plastic bags are commonly found in modem grocery stores andsupermarkets. The most common bags are designed for customers to usewhen purchasing fresh produce. A large number of dispensers of bags fromroll mounted plastic bags have been used and are being used throughoutthe grocery stores and super markets. Furthermore, such dispensers havebeen the subject of several patents.

The bags currently available are difficult for customers to use forseveral reasons. First, the bags tend to cling together due to excessivestatic and are difficult to separate from the roll. Second, it isdifficult to tell the open end of the bag from the closed end of thebag. Third, the individual bags are difficult to open, as the sides tendto cling together. Fourth, the rolls tend to spin when an individual bagis pulled off the dispenser thereby causing loose bags to hang from thedispenser.

A need has arisen for a bag dispensing system for dispensing plasticbags from a roll that is simple, effective and does not spin when pulledto dispense a bag.

The present invention(s) relates to a dispenser that is compact, simpleto operate and has an internal braking mechanism to prevent spinning ofthe roll during the dispersing process.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plastic bag dispenser for dispensing bags from a plastic bag roll isdisclosed. The dispenser includes a base frame which is composed of abottom section and a back section having a reduced width portion. A riptongue extending from the bottom section adapted to catch and separate apassing bag from a nested plastic bag roll. A mounting plate is attachedto the bottom section and adapted to pivotally attach the dispenser to afloor stand mount with the ability to pivotally adjust the dispenser'sposition

A swing arm is located along the upper section of the base frame and ispivotally attached thereto. A bag roll stop is attached to the free endof the swing arm. The roll stop is received in the core of the bag roll.The roll stop includes a hollow cylinder for housing a flat spring whichapplies a spring force on the interior of the core to prevent the bagroll from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use. Thespring is inserted in the hollow cylinder and a bend portion thereofextends beyond the exterior cylindrical surface of the hollow cylinderthrough a slot to provide a biasing spring force on the interior of thecore of a bag roll when a bag roll is placed over the cylinder. Thisbiasing force provides a brake so as to prevent the bag roll fromunraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use.

In an alternative embodiment the back section is of uniform width anddoes not have a reduced width portion. All other components remain thesame.

In operation, a plastic bag is pulled down over the rip tongue. Thiscauses nested plastic bag roll to unroll until the perforation inplastic bag passes over the rip tongue. As the perforations pass overthe rip tongue, a plastic bag separates from the nested plastic bagroll. The next plastic bag on the nested plastic bag roll is thenpositioned in the open front of the bottom section for use. The plasticbag roll is prevented from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or whennot in use by friction between the plastic bag roll and the roll stopresulting from the biasing force of the spring on the interior of thecore of the bag roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a dispenser having a bag roll nested therein inaccordance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bag perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 withoutthe bag roll showing the arm in a raised position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a spring used in the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the spring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the spring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 4 showingthe arm in a lowered position;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thedispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the roll stop of the dispenser ofFIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a front perspective of the dispenser of FIG. 10 with the armbeing in a raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a plastic bagdispenser 10 according to the present invention with a plastic bag roll12 nested therein, as more fully described below. Dispenser 10 includesa base frame 16 which is composed of a bottom section 18 and a backsection 20. Bottom section 18 has an open front with a rip tongue 22extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag 24 froma nested plastic bag roll 12.

A mounting plate 26 is attached to bottom section 18 and adapted toattach the dispenser 10 to a floor stand mount 28. Mounting plate 26includes an arched slot 36. A nut and bolt 32 pivotally connectsmounting plate 26 to floor stand mount 28. A nut and bolt 34 connectsmounting plate 26 to floor stand mount 28 and is adapted to travel inarched slot 36 when mounting plate 26 pivots around nut and bolt 32. Theposition of dispenser 10 is adjustable by pivoting mounting plate 26around nut and bolt 32 and allowing nut and bolt 34 to travel in archedslot 36 until it reaches the desired position whereupon nut and bolt 34is tightened to secure mounting plate 26 to the new position. Dispenser10 may also be attached to any other bracket such as a vertical surfacemount or a horizontal surface mount.

A swing arm 40 is located along the upper section of back section ofbase frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped, with a right anglebend where it extends past the depth of back section 20. Swing arm 40 isattached to back section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings54A and 54B which are attached to back section 20. Swing arm 40 isreceived in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axlewhen coupled with swing arm base 52. A plastic bag roll stop 58 islocated at the free end of swing arm 40 and is adapted to keep plasticbag roll 12 in place during use. As plastic bag roll 12 is depleted,swing arm 40 rotates about swing arm base 52 towards back section 20 andbottom section 18 of base frame 16.

In operation, a plastic bag 24 is pulled down over rip tongue 22. Thiscauses nested plastic bag roll 12 to unroll until the perforation inplastic bag 24 passes over rip tongue 22. As the perforations pass overrip tongue 22, plastic bag 24 separates from the nested plastic bag roll12. The next plastic bag 24 on the nested plastic bag roll 12 is thenpositioned in the open front of bottom section 18 for use. Plastic bagroll 12 is prevented from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or whennot in use by friction between the plastic bag roll 12 and roll stop 58,as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is a shown a front perspective view ofdispenser 10. There is shown plastic bag roll 12 nested therein andsupported on bottom section 18 having an open front with rip tongue 22extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag 24 fromthe nested plastic bag roll 12. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottomsection 18.

Generally cylindrical roll stop 58 is received in core 60 of bag roll12. Roll stop 58 includes a cylindrical chamber 61 for housing a spring62 which applies a spring force on the interior of core 60 to preventbag roll 12 from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not inuse, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a shown a rear perspective view ofdispenser 10 of FIG. 1. There is shown plastic bag roll 12 nestedtherein and supported on bottom section 18 and back section 20 which hasa reduced width portion as compared to the width of bottom section 18.

Mounting plate 26 extending from bottom section 18 is attached to floorstand mount 28 via nuts and bolts 32 and 34. Swing arm 40 is attached toback section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54Bwhich are attached to back section 20. Swing arm 40 is received inbushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axle whencoupled with swing arm base 52

Roll stop 58 is received in core 60 of bag roll 12. Roll stop 58includes cylindrical chamber 61 for housing spring 62 which applies aspring force on the interior of core 60 to prevent bag roll 12 fromunraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use, as hereinafterdescribed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a front perspective view of bagdispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without aplastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having areduced width portion 21. Bottom section 18 has an open front with riptongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passingbag from a plastic bag roll. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottomsection 18 and adapted to attach dispenser 10 to a floor stand mount(not shown in FIG. 4 but shown in FIG. 1).

Swing arm 40 is in extended raised position and is located along theupper section of base frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped,with a right angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section20. Swing arm 40 is attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which areattached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20. Swing arm 40 isreceived in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axlewhen coupled with swing arm base 52. Plastic bag roll stop 58 is locatedat the free end of swing arm 40.

Roll stop 58 includes a hollow cylinder 70 with an elongate slot 71providing an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70 to thecylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62 disposed in the interior ofcylinder 70. Cylinder 70 is attached to swing arm 40 on one end and isopen on the other end to receive spring 62. A circular plate 74 isattached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40 to provide a stop to bagroll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a side view of spring 62. Spring62 is a flat spring constructed of metal spring material having bendportions 72 and 74 suitable for performing the functions describedbelow. FIG. 6 is a top view of spring 62 of FIG. 5 having bend portions72 and 74 and openings 76 and 78 for affixing spring 62 to the interiorof hollow cylinder 70. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of spring 62 of FIG. 5having bend portions 72 and 74 and openings 76 and 78 for affixingspring 62 to the interior of hollow cylinder 70.

Referring back to FIG. 4, spring 62 is inserted in hollow cylinder 70and secured therein through attachment elements going through openings76 and 78 (not shown in FIG. 4 but shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). In thesecured position bend portion 72 extends beyond the exterior cylindricalsurface of hollow cylinder 70 and is adapted to provide a biasing springforce on the interior of core 60 of bag roll (not shown in FIG. 4 butshown in FIG. 3) when core 60 is received over roll stop 58. Thisbiasing force provides a brake so as to prevent bag roll 12 fromunraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use. Further, inthe secure position, bend portion 74 is adapted to be pushed to oneposition to allow for the sliding placement of the bag roll on roll stop58 and to return to a second position to act as a stop preventing thebag roll from slipping out after it is placed on roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a bottom perspective view of bagdispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without aplastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having areduced width portion 21. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottomsection 18 and adapted to attach dispenser 10 to floor stand mount 28via nut and bolts 32 and 34. Roll stop 58 is in lowered position restingon back section 20. Swing arm (not shown) is attached to back reducedwidth portion 21 of section 20 by swing arm base 52.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a front perspective view of bagdispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without aplastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having areduced width portion 21. Bottom section 18 has an open front with riptongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passingbag from a plastic bag roll.

Swing arm 40 is in lowered position and is located along the uppersection of base frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped, with aright angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20.Swing arm 40 is attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which areattached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20. Swing arm 40 isreceived in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axlewhen coupled with swing arm base 52. Plastic bag roll stop 58 is locatedat the free end of swing arm 40.

Roll stop 58 includes a hollow cylinder 70 with an elongate slot 71(notshown) providing an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70 tothe cylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62 disposed in theinterior of cylinder 70. Cylinder 70 is attached to swing arm 40 on oneend and is open on the other end to receive spring 62. A circular plate74 is attached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40 to provide a stopto bag roll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a dispenser 10A which issimilar to the dispenser 10 of FIGS. 1-4, 8 and 9 with the onlydifference being that back section 20 of dispenser 10 that has a reducedwidth portion 21 is replaced by a back section 20A that has a uniformwidth and not a reduced width portion. There is shown a frontperspective view of bag dispenser 10A without a plastic bag roll nestedtherein. Dispenser 10A includes base frame 16A which is composed ofbottom section 18A and back section 20A. Bottom section 18A has an openfront with rip tongue 22A extending therefrom adapted to catch andseparate a passing bag from a plastic bag roll.

Swing arm 40A is in lowered position and is located along the uppersection of base frame 16A. Swing arm 40A is generally “L” shaped, with aright angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20A.Swing arm 40A is attached to back section 20A by swing arm base 52Acomprised of bushings 54C and 54D which are attached to back section20A. Swing arm 40A is received in bushings 54C and 54D to allow swingarm 40A to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52A. Plasticbag roll stop 58A is located at the free end of swing arm 40A.

Roll stop 58A includes a hollow cylinder 70A with an elongate slot 71Aproviding an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70A to thecylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62A disposed in the interiorof cylinder 70A. Cylinder 70A is attached to swing arm 40A on one endand is open on the other end to receive spring 62A. A circular plate 74Ais attached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40A to provide a stop tobag roll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58A. Dispenser 10Ais attached to a floor stand 28A.

Referring now to FIG. 11 there is shown an enlarged view of roll stop58A of FIG. 10, showing bend portion 72A extending beyond the exteriorcylindrical surface of hollow cylinder 70A and is adapted to provide abiasing spring force on the interior of the core of a bag roll when thecore is received over roll stop 58A.

Referring now to FIG. 12 there is shown dispenser 10A of FIG. 10 witharm 40A raised.

Having described the invention above, various modifications of thetechniques, procedures, materials, and equipment will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. It is intended that all such variations withinthe scope and spirit of the invention be included within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for dispensing bags from plastic bagrolls that have a core: a frame; a pivotable arm attached to the frame;and a brake adapted to apply a braking force to the interior of thecore.
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the brake is a spring.3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the brake includes a hollowcylinder and a spring disposed in the cylinder.
 4. A dispenser accordingto claim 3 wherein the hollow cylinder included a slot and a portion ofthe spring extends through the slot beyond the exterior surface of thecylinder.